Monday was significant for the Heat, and for more than blowing past the feeble Grizzlies.

For one of the rare times, it was a day we were able to get some insight into the relationship that is Michael Beasley-Erik Spoelstra.

In a moment of candor, Beasley sat by his locker after one of his more aggressive performances in weeks, spoke of the conversation he had with Spoelstra, one that sounded rather one-sided, and dealt with the insistence by the first-year coach that the rookie forward accomplish more off the boards.

Fine. Now we know. Rebound and you play. Take a passive approach and you watch from the bench. Monday, there were nine rebounds, an aggressive bent.

Even more significant was Beasley acknowledging that he had gotten away from attacking the glass. While limited minutes certainly have been a factor, Beasley has not reached double figures in rebounds since Jan. 31 against Dallas. In the six games prior to Monday, Beasley had 20 total rebounds, including games of one and zero.

Good. Now we all know the score. Rebound and there will be rewards. As perhaps the best manner of perspective, consider the rounding rankings of rookies on a per-minute basis (which takes into account Beasley's limited minutes). Beasley currently ranks 10th among rookies, at 10.2 per 48 minutes, putting him behind, in order: Kevin Love, JaVale McGee, Jason Thompson, Brook Lopez, Louis Amundson, Marc Gasol, Marreese Speights, Luc Mbah a Moute and Darrell Arthur.

this is a game where wade is hurting the heat.
He still can draw fouls . Thats what he needs to do. His jumpers are not working.
and for a big man, jermaine doesnt get to the line enough. He needs to get to the rim nore.

Wow…that got out of hand quick.
Posted by: badimo | March 25, 2009 at 09:11 PM
Ron Burgundy: Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean that really got out of hand fast!
Brian Fantana: It jumped up a notch.
Ron Burgundy: It did, didn’t it?
Brick Tamland: Yea, I stabbed a man in the heart.
Ron Burgundy: I saw that! Brick killed a guy. Did you throw a trident?
Brick Tamland: Yea, there were horses and a man on fire and I killed a guy with a trident.
Ron Burgundy: Brick, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. You should find yourself a safe house or a relative close by because you’re probably wanted for murder

this is a game where wade is hurting the heat.
He still can draw fouls . Thats what he needs to do. His jumpers are not working.
Posted by: doctorb | March 25, 2009 at 09:12 PM
Yes, maybe the Heat should trade him. For a player who drives and takes it to the rim more often than him and a player with a stronger offensive game than him. Then the heat would have won this game. Heat better either get Shaq, Jordan, or Wilt a fountain of youth and check them into this game.

ok. somebody help me understand. if the pacers are going small with granger at the 4, where he can abuse haslem, and we cant counter by posting up haslem because well, haslem isnt a post player, WHY THE F*CK DONT WE INSERT A SF TO COMBAT THIS LINEUP? allw e have to do is insert dorrell at pf because he can rebound, defend, and oh wait….hes inactive because quinn,jones, and diawara are lighting the world on fire. well theres a thought, y not insert boo-boo or jones at pf? seriously spo.

Get Beasley OUT!!! BRING WADE IN!
Posted by: Ed E Jones | March 25, 2009 at 09:09 PM
================================
Did you mean JO? Wade was already in the game
Nope I wanted that to sound like we are waiting for the real Wade to get in!

You see that’s the problem with some of these heat players.. if someone does what Foster did to another team’s star player, someone woulda stepped up and pushed him onto the ground. Posey. Oakley. Horry. Randolph. Carmelo. Jeffries. etc.

If Haslem plays like this consistently he deserves to start. He is playing like a DAMN MAN tonight!!
Posted by: Ed E Jones
====================
ERRRRRRRR WRONG!!!!!!
JOSH BADIMO AND CRUICRUISE WILL BACK ME UP ON THIS

is there ANY DOUBT we would be winning by 20+pts if it weren’t for Haslem starting over Beasley?
Posted by: I-Win | March 25, 2009 at 09:24 PM
Haslem brings another level of consistency as expected of a veteran compared to a rookie.

IRA WINDERMAN is embarking on his 24th season covering the Miami Heat for the Sun-Sentinel, witnessing more than 1,900 of the team's games (thus the bags under the eyes and hair loss not truly depicted by the accompanying photo). With the help of antacids (during the lean years) and a sense of humor (during the Riley dictatorship), he has been able to remain a courtside fixture at AmericanAirlines Arena, a veteran 12 years older than coach Erik Spoelstra. Only former trainer Ron Culp had attended more Heat games, but, then again, Winderman has yet to tape his first ankle.